Progressive Views on the News

Words Fail

UPDATE: As outrage grows, Hoodies are being worn as a way to express grief and horror about the killing of Trayvon Martin. From a petition to the Attorney General of Florida:

“George Zimmerman’s shooting of Trayvon Martin, an African American teenager, reveals a history of racism in Sanford, FL that has stubbornly refused to die. Weeks after the shooting, the Sanford police department is slow to release details of the shooting and, more surprisingly, has not arrested George Zimmerman, a man who has a history of violence. We urge you to sign this petition to protect private citizens from gun violence and inept law enforcement. Florida’s Attorney General Pam Bondi must step in and provide justice for Trayvon Martin, his family, and the community.” Click here to add your name:http://signon.org/sign/justice-for-trayvon-martin?source=s.fwd&r_by=3540007

When I heard about the murder of Trayvon Martin I felt like everything just stopped for a moment.

I’m talking about a real halt for a serious moment…a stretching out of time through which everything ached bone deep.

There is still much to learn about the murder of Trayvon Martin, but what we know now is hauntingly close to the nightmare that has been my companion for as long as I can remember.

That nightmare that makes the women in my family advise any and all young black people about to leave the house on how to act…what to do if the police harass or a security guard follows…how to respond if confronted for driving while black or walking while black or shopping while black or having fun while black or going to school while black or seeking medical treatment while black or voting while black or dating while black or for just being black.

The nightmare that is followed by the reality that those cautions don’t matter…that this isn’t about “earning it” or “deserving it” or “asking for it”.

Read the rest here. SHARKFU’S post echoes the opinions of many concerned people, and of my family, who raise sons of all colors and send them into the world with a prayer for their safety.

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2 thoughts on “Words Fail”

Unfortunately,the vast majority of young people of color who die from gun violence
do so in places like Chicago,where there are really insane gun laws that are supposed to “protect”the community.They really work gret-49 people were shot over St.patrick’s Day weekend in Chi Town,ten fatally,including a 6 year old girl.Most were gang related.
George Zimmerman’s case had obviously been eriously mishandled by the Sanford PD who need to step aside and have an outside agency investigate.
I don’t see how Zimmerman’s actions can be justified under the ‘stand your ground”law.He was pursuing Trayvon despite police instructions no to do so.
I am distressed to see a professional racist scumbag rabble rouser like Al Sharpton involved-he has blood on his hands from NY-you want details-I have them.
I hope this doesn’t devolve into demonization of gun owners by the liberals.
What’s needed herer is actual justice

The sanford PD did not conduct even the most basic investigation of this incident-why didn’t they take custody of Zimmerman’s firearm for testing?Why wasn’t he drug/acohol tested?This would be standard for any law enforcement officer involved in a shooting,particularly”off duty”.Let alone a civilian shooting.
Remember the retired police officer convicted of murder for shooting his neighbor,a fireman,in Cranston?And that situation involved the fireman going into the other man’s house and attacking him.The fact that the fireman was shot while trying toleave was probably the determining factor.
None of this was even looked at in this case.
I think the Sanford PD was crapping their pants over a potential lawsuit based on a Neighborhood Watch guy who is apparently a wannabe cop having inadequate training and oversight.
So the Sanford PD decided to sweep this under the rug.
I may not like the professional “racial advisors”like Sharpton and Jackson,but this doesn’t change my view of the poor way this was handled locally.Jackson shoulda stayed in Chicago and spent time on those 49 shootings,probably NONE involving “racial”issues.